TOUCHED

I want to continue the lesson the Lord gave me in the Bible Teachers International World Conference 2011. We talked about the death, burial and resurrection of the Lord Jesus Christ. But, I want to back up a moment and deal with an issue that has plagued the minds of many ministers of this glorious gospel. “Did Jesus experience the power of sin, even as we did?” This question really deserves an answer that is as straightforward as it is. Nevertheless, we will take the scenic route to its bottom line. To begin with, we will look into the mind of the Father concerning the making of the Son.

Hebrews 1:4-14

4 Being made so much better than the angels, as he hath by inheritance obtained a more excellent name than they.

5 For unto which of the angels said he at any time, Thou art my Son, this day have I begotten thee? And again, I will be to him a Father, and he shall be to me a Son?

6 And again, when he bringeth in the firstbegotten into the world, he saith, And let all the angels of God worship him.

7 And of the angels he saith, Who maketh his angels spirits, and his ministers a flame of fire.

8 But unto the Son he saith, Thy throne, O God, is for ever and ever: a sceptre of righteousness is the sceptre of thy kingdom.

9 Thou hast loved righteousness, and hated iniquity; therefore God, even thy God, hath anointed thee with the oil of gladness above thy fellows.

10 And, Thou, Lord, in the beginning hast laid the foundation of the earth; and the heavens are the works of thine hands:

11 They shall perish; but thou remainest; and they all shall wax old as doth a garment;

12 And as a vesture shalt thou fold them up, and they shall be changed: but thou art the same, and thy years shall not fail.

13 But to which of the angels said he at any time, Sit on my right hand, until I make thine enemies thy footstool?

14 Are they not all ministering spirits, sent forth to minister for them who shall be heirs of salvation?

• He has a more excellent name; which is according to His inheritance. He is the Son who is given authority over all the works of God.
• He commanded the angels to worship Him.
• He is given a throne that is eternal.
• All the heavens shall perish but Jesus shall remain. His years shall not fail.
• He is seated at the right hand of God.
• The angels are ministering spirits sent forth to minister for Him and those who are heirs of salvation.

Having made this comparison between the Son and the angels of the Lord, they speak to us of the reward Jesus received after His passion. But beforehand, the scriptures declare that He was made a little lower than the angels for the suffering of death. This weakness is that of humanity, which is the body He was given. If He were equal with the angels in the flesh, it would have been impossible that He should taste death for us all.

Hebrews 2:9-11

9 But we see Jesus, who was made a little lower than the angels for the suffering of death, crowned with glory and honour; that he by the grace of God should taste death for every man.

10 For it became him, for whom are all things, and by whom are all things, in bringing many sons unto glory, to make the captain of their salvation perfect through sufferings.

11 For both he that sanctifieth and they who are sanctified are all of one: for which cause he is not ashamed to call them brethren,

I want to focus on the 10th verse. God saw fit to make the captain of our salvation, who is Jesus the Christ perfect through sufferings.

JESUS AND THE POWER OF SIN

Now we must see the gospel through the eyes of the unsaved man. How is it possible for you, Jesus who has never known any sin, to identify with me the sinner who was born into sin? How is it possible for you to know the power of temptation, if you yourself have never been tempted? You have never known the pleasure of sin in the flesh, because you have never thought to disobey God. Sure you made the right choice when you were driven to the wilderness to be tempted of the devil. And yes, I know you could have chosen pride or arrogance in that test. But still, though I am persuaded you could have sinned by choice, you were even as Adam, making a decision void of knowing the power of sin in the flesh. Neither of you ever experienced the workings of the law of sin and death in your members (until Adam sinned). But we have. We were born with a foreign, controlling spirit in us that created evil desires in our flesh. And now the saved speaks: "Though I am born again, how can you possibly identify with the struggle I have in the flesh and in my mind. I struggle to maintain this walk of holiness." The pleasure of sin is the power it holds in the flesh. "So Lord Jesus, you know nothing of this".

Hebrews 5:7-9

7 Who in the days of his flesh, when he had offered up prayers and supplications with strong crying and tears unto him that was able to save him from death, and was heard in that he feared;

8 Though he were a Son, yet learned he obedience by the things which he suffered;

9 And being made perfect, he became the author of eternal salvation unto all them that obey him;

I think this passage tells the story clearly. Here we have Jesus the Christ, the Son of the Living God; but a Son who knew no sin. He is in the garden praying and offering up supplication to the Father. The word supplication means to approach for a favor. He wanted something from the Father. It was revealed in His prayer. “Father, let this cup pass from me. Nevertheless, not my will, but thy will be done.” We must understand what happened between the “let this cup pass,” and “nevertheless.” He was heard. Yes, the Father heard Him and answered. The Father speaks. You are my Son in whom I have been well pleased. You have obeyed me in all things. But, you must now become the perfect sacrifice. Just as the High Priest prayed the sins of the nation on the head of the scapegoat, the sins of the world must be placed on you. You must obey me even with the working of the Law of Sin and Death in your flesh. You must feel the power, pleasure and agony of sin in your flesh, even as your brothers have. You must know and experience all the evil Satan has created in the human body; yet without allowing the darkness to penetrate your heart. Your soul must be sinless, if you are to rise again.

Hebrews 4:15

For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin.

Touched with the feeling: to feel; felt; have compassion Infirmities: weaknesses, moral frailty, weakness of body and mind

All Points: all; any; every; and thoroughly

Tempted: to examine, prove, test, try, scrutinize

Paul makes it very clear that Jesus was tempted in the same manner as we are.

Remember the sin was laid upon His flesh, but He still had the Holy Ghost dwelling within. This was the strength He needed to resist the power of the feelings in the flesh. He resisted with the mind of the Spirit. He obeyed the Word and the mandate He was given, in spite of the workings of the law of sin in His body. He learned what it took to obey the Father in the midst of trials and temptation. Thus, He learned obedience by the things He suffered.

Hebrew 2:11

For both he that sanctifieth and they who are sanctified are all of one: for which cause he is not ashamed to call them brethren,

According to the passage above, we are no different in this principle than Christ. The Father will entreat us accordingly. So we are even as the one who sanctified us. Therefore, our making must be the same.